By: Matt Rappa, managing editor 
CLEARWATER, Fla. — Entering Wednesday afternoon's pair of split-squad games, in which the Phillies won both—8-4 at home against the Baltimore Orioles and 4-2 away at Fort Myers against the Minnesota Twins—the Philadelphia Phillies' offense ranked tied for sixth throughout Major League Baseball in spring training home runs with nine.
Third baseman Maikel Franco led the way with two, followed by one each for Aaron Altherr, Taylor Featherston, Roman Quinn, Darin Ruf and non-roster invitees J.P. Arencibia, Cedric Hunter and Andrew Knapp.
On Wednesday, Ruf and catcher Cameron Rupp both added to the team's total with a pair of home runs each.
Ruf's blasts came off of Orioles' starter RHP Yovani Gallardo in the first and former Phillie RHP Vance Worley in the fourth. For Rupp, his came against Twins' starter, left-hander Tommy Milone in the third, and 32-year-old right-handed reliever Casey Fien in the fifth.
While both of Ruf's home runs were added insurance runs, Rupp's third and fifth-inning blasts against the Twins tied the game at one and put the Phillies on top 2-1, respectively.
Also entering Wednesday, the Phillies led all of Major League Baseball in spring training runs-batted-in, 51. For a team that ranked 28th in both home runs (130) and runs-batted-in (586) last season, this is a welcoming improvement for manager Pete Mackanin's squad.
Home against the Orioles, starter Alec Asher surrendered two runs on three hits over three innings, while striking out five batters. Asher was a last-minute replacement for right-hander Jeremy Hellickson, who was scratched with the flu. Facing the Twins at Fort Myers, right-hander Zach Eflin allowed just one earned run in three innings on four hits.
The Phillies will take on two-time National League All-Star right-hander Jordan Zimmermann and the Detroit Tigers at 1:05 p.m. on Thursday at Bright House Field.
